VOCAL group The Diamonds features former Hi5 member Casey Burgess, former Moulin Rouge dancer and current Miss World contestant Shikye Smith and soul songstress Hannah May Buckley.
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The trio will be performing at Club Sapphire in Merimbula on Friday, June 26, and Smith spoke to the Bega District News this week about pageantry, her time in Paris and her connection to Sydney melodic thrash metal band Dungeon.
Smith is currently competing for the title of Miss World 2015, and it is her first adventure into the unique world of pageantry.
“At the moment I’m a New South Wales state finalist and from there I will hopefully progress,” Smith said.
“This is my first footstep into pageantry, my friends had done it before and I thought I’d just give it a shot.
“For me it’s about charity and giving back to the community is the most important thing for me.”
Described by audiences as “The Sapphires meets Destiny’s Child” group has enjoyed success performing worldwide and around the country, and Smith is excited to be visiting the far south coast.
“I’m really looking forward to getting out of the big city,” she said.
The group launched in 2013 when they were offered the opportunity to entertain Beyonce’s VIP audience members at each of her Sydney shows on the Mrs Carter World Tour, before travelling to Singapore to perform at the Formula One Grand Prix, however Smith’s international journey began in the streets of Paris.
“I moved to Paris when I was 19 and danced there for two years with Moulin Rouge, it was a completely different world,” she said.
“I was so lucky to be part of it and part of history.”
The trio will play a string of pop diva hits from the 1940s to today, but it wasn’t pop music that lured Smith into the world of musical performance.
“My dad was a bass player back in the day for metal bands like Bloody Mary, Rogue and Dungeon so I was always surrounded by music,” she said.
“I just loved any excuse to be on stage and share my love and passion for what I did.
“I just like making people smile, and I’m very lucky to be doing what I love,” she said.
So how do the group get along? And what can be expected at their June 26 show?
“We all came from various parts of the industry, so we all knew of each other and we’re absolute best of friends,” she said.
“We start with the hits of the 1940s and end with Beyonce’s hits of today.
“One medley I do have a bunch of love for is the Spice Girls medley we perform, I’m a 90s girl so I really enjoy singing those songs,” Smith said.
The Diamonds will play hits from Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Donna Summer, The Pointer Sisters, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguliera, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and NYC’s Alicia Keys.
The Diamonds perform at Club Sapphire in Merimbula, on Friday, June 26, and doors open at 8pm.
Tickets are $35 to the 18+ event.
